Calgary men facing 66 charges in 3D-printed guns investigation
Posted Aug 25, 2022 9:42 am.
Last Updated Aug 26, 2022 7:12 am.
Two Calgary men are facing dozens of gun-related charges in connection with an investigation into the trafficking of 3D-printed guns through the city.
Police say the probe began in November 2020, when a man suspected of gun trafficking bought a 3D printer. Officers believed the man was using it to make guns.
Calgary police display gun parts and a 3D printer that were seized as a part of an investigation. (Nick Blakeney, CityNews Photo)
Calgary police display guns that were seized as a part of an investigation. (Nick Blakeney, CityNews Photo)
In May of this year, investigators searched two homes in the southeast communities of Dover Glen and Seton and found:
- Three “Ender” 3D printers
- Five complete 3D printed Glock-style handguns with magazines
- Five 3D printed Glock-style lower receivers
- Additional firearm parts, including trigger parts, slides and barrels
- Ammunition
- Used shell casings
- Approximately 100 grams of suspected crack cocaine
- Filament for 3D printing and other firearm assembly tools
- Multiple computers and cell phones
Police ended up linking a 3D-printed gun they seized in a shooting to one of the printers that was found in this investigation.
On Aug. 16, officers arrested 24-year-old Brandon Vincent-Wagner and 27-year-old Justin Kumar. Both are from Calgary and are facing 66 total charges, including manufacturing and trafficking firearms.
Police say they seized 1,229 guns so far this year, including 316 that were “unlawfully used, unlawfully possessed, and unlawfully stored, including found or abandoned firearms.”
Officers add that nine per cent of the 316 guns seized were 3D-printed or homemade, “a significant increase from previous years.”
“3D printed firearms are a growing trend that we are working to address through targeted enforcement,” said acting Staff-Sgt. Ben Lawson with Calgary police. “3D printed guns function just like any other firearm and have the potential to cause real danger to our community.”
Anyone with information about gun violence or gun trafficking is asked to call police at 403-266-1234. You can also leave a tip anonymously through Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
